Obituary for Opal N. Olson
Opal N. Olson, age 93, of Mapleton, Iowa, passed away, Wednesday, November 1, 2017, at Maple Heights Nursing Home of Mapleton, Iowa.
A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at the St. Peters United Church of Christ, of Mapleton, Iowa. Harvey Hanson will officiate; with committal services following in the Mount Hope Cemetery of Mapleton, Iowa. A visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 8, 2017, St. Peters United Church of Christ, of Mapleton, Iowa. The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com
Opal Nadine Olson was born on September 17, 1924, in Mapleton, IA, the daughter of Harry and Emmaline (Osborne) Grass. She was baptized and confirmed in the Trinity Episcopal Church in Mapleton, IA. She later became a member of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Mapleton, IA.
Opal graduated from Maple Valley Community High School in 1944. She married Vernon Gale Olson on July 16, 1944, at the Soldier Lutheran Church in Soldier, IA. They started their married life in Mapleton, IA. After Vernon returned home from his tour of duty with the Army, they made their home on a farm west of Mapleton and later moved to a farm on the south edge of Mapleton where they lived for 35 years. They retired from farming and moved into Mapleton in January 1979. Opal and Vernon celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in July of 1999. Vernon later passed away on December 17, 1999.
Opal was contracted as an insurance representative for Royal Neighbors of America in May 1968 and earned the Fraternal Insurance Counsellors designation (FIC) in August 1981. She retired January 30, 1997, 30 years with Royal Neighbors of America. She won many awards with RNA and traveled this country coast to coast and Hawaii attending the national meetings for RNA. She was both a secretary and treasurer for Iowa Fraternal Congress, served as president for the Iowa District Representative for 8 years. She was a board member for the Iowa Chapter of the Fraternal Insurance Councilors for 4 years, State Oracle president for 4 years and she served as secretary and treasurer of the local RNA camp 2993 of Mapleton up to the time of her death. Opal also worked at O’Meara Shoes and the Mapleton Press. She was secretary for the Sunday School of St. Peter’s UCC and a Cub Scout Den Mother.
Left to cherish her memory is daughter Sharon (Len) Ainsworth of Des Moines, IA and son Randy (Betty Lou) Olson of Ute, IA; four grandchildren Tracye (Chris) Harper of Mesa, AZ, Trent (Bickley Wilson) Ainsworth of West Des Moines, IA, Amanda (Derick) Bruhn of Schleswig, IA and BriAnna (Nick) Nystrom of Waukee, IA; eight great grandchildren Calvin and Morgan Harper of Mesa, AZ, Kaitlyn, Kamden, Karsen, and Kyler Bruhn of Schleswig, IA, Ellsey and Leo Ainsworth of West Des Moines, IA; sisters-in-law Maryilyn Argotsinger of Nevada, IA, Maribelle (Dick) Betterton of Cedar Falls, IA; extended family and friends.
Opal was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years Vernon, her parents, two brothers and one sister, two sisters-in-law and three brothers-in-law.
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A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at the St. Peters United Church of Christ, of Mapleton, Iowa. Harvey Hanson will officiate; with committal services following in the Mount Hope Cemetery of Mapleton, Iowa. A visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 8, 2017, St. Peters United Church of Christ, of Mapleton, Iowa. The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com
Opal Nadine Olson was born on September 17, 1924, in Mapleton, IA, the daughter of Harry and Emmaline (Osborne) Grass. She was baptized and confirmed in the Trinity Episcopal Church in Mapleton, IA. She later became a member of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Mapleton, IA.
Opal graduated from Maple Valley Community High School in 1944. She married Vernon Gale Olson on July 16, 1944, at the Soldier Lutheran Church in Soldier, IA. They started their married life in Mapleton, IA. After Vernon returned home from his tour of duty with the Army, they made their home on a farm west of Mapleton and later moved to a farm on the south edge of Mapleton where they lived for 35 years. They retired from farming and moved into Mapleton in January 1979. Opal and Vernon celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in July of 1999. Vernon later passed away on December 17, 1999.
Opal was contracted as an insurance representative for Royal Neighbors of America in May 1968 and earned the Fraternal Insurance Counsellors designation (FIC) in August 1981. She retired January 30, 1997, 30 years with Royal Neighbors of America. She won many awards with RNA and traveled this country coast to coast and Hawaii attending the national meetings for RNA. She was both a secretary and treasurer for Iowa Fraternal Congress, served as president for the Iowa District Representative for 8 years. She was a board member for the Iowa Chapter of the Fraternal Insurance Councilors for 4 years, State Oracle president for 4 years and she served as secretary and treasurer of the local RNA camp 2993 of Mapleton up to the time of her death. Opal also worked at O’Meara Shoes and the Mapleton Press. She was secretary for the Sunday School of St. Peter’s UCC and a Cub Scout Den Mother.
Left to cherish her memory is daughter Sharon (Len) Ainsworth of Des Moines, IA and son Randy (Betty Lou) Olson of Ute, IA; four grandchildren Tracye (Chris) Harper of Mesa, AZ, Trent (Bickley Wilson) Ainsworth of West Des Moines, IA, Amanda (Derick) Bruhn of Schleswig, IA and BriAnna (Nick) Nystrom of Waukee, IA; eight great grandchildren Calvin and Morgan Harper of Mesa, AZ, Kaitlyn, Kamden, Karsen, and Kyler Bruhn of Schleswig, IA, Ellsey and Leo Ainsworth of West Des Moines, IA; sisters-in-law Maryilyn Argotsinger of Nevada, IA, Maribelle (Dick) Betterton of Cedar Falls, IA; extended family and friends.
Opal was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years Vernon, her parents, two brothers and one sister, two sisters-in-law and three brothers-in-law.
Previous Events
Visitation
Wednesday
8
Nov
12:00 PM
- 1:00 PM
St. Peter's United Church of Christ
510 Ring Street
Mapleton, IA 51034
Service
Wednesday
8
Nov
1:00 PM
St. Peter's United Church of Christ
510 Ring Street
Mapleton, IA 51034
Cemetery Details
Location
Mt. Hope Cemetery
Mapleton, Iowa
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